company of attentive listeners. No one can realize, who has not been on
the ground, the sacrifice and labors of this little band of workers,
who are so completely isolated by prejudice from their own people,
and are giving up everything to the elevation of this unfortunate
people. One of the saddest things about the work is the lack of means
to accommodate those who would be glad to avail themselves of the
advantages of this school. If we at the North could only see how small
would be our largest gifts compared with those of these teachers,
should we not do much more?
Raleigh.
Reverend George E. Smith sends an account of the refreshing, and in
every way helpful labors of Reverend Henry E. Brown, during a few
weeks’ visit to the churches of Raleigh. It will be remembered that
Rev. Mr. Brown was connected with our work at Talladega, where, by
his devoted and earnest labors, not only as Pastor and Professor of
Theology, but as a missionary to the regions about, he established a
number of churches and did much to ensure their success. He is now
in the employ of the colored Y. M. C. Association of Raleigh, and is
visiting the churches of the South under its auspices.
He reached Raleigh at noon on the 9th of February, and with
characteristic zeal had visited every colored pastor of the city
before night, and arranged for a meeting held that evening in the
Congregational Church, which was crowded to overflowing. Three
delegates of the Y. M. C. A., white, were present, and after hearing
Bro. Brown’s plan of operations, cordially endorsed them, and proffered
their assistance in carrying them out. Meetings for workers were held
in the afternoon of each day; from this those who co-operated in the
work went out to prayer-meetings in different parts of the city, and in
the evening general meetings were held in the various churches.
Bro. Smith adds: There is now a revival going on in every colored
church in the city, and we really feel that it is a revival of
religion, not mere excitement.
Since Brother Brown came in our midst, over one hundred souls have been
born into the kingdom of Christ. Many of the Sunday-school scholars
have been led to reflect, and to accept the Saviour as their great head
and teacher. Brother Brown’s labors among us have been a blessing to
all. One minister said the other day, “My people have more religion
than they used to have.” When asked why he thought so, he replied,
“Because they are living better.”
It may be gratifying to the many friends of our little church to know
that we have shared in this great blessing. At our next communion
season, which is the first Sabbath in April, we expect a glorious time,
as ten persons have already made application to unite with us at that
time. There may be more, as there are many anxious ones who meet with
us every night inquiring the way of salvation. Since Brother Brown
left, we have still carried on the meetings.
* * * * *
ALABAMA.
CONFERENCE OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
A Full and Delightful Meeting--Abundant and Most Courteous
Hospitality of the Citizens.
BY MISS A. E. SAWYER.
The fifth annual meeting of the Alabama Conference was held, beginning
Saturday evening, March 27th, and closing on the evening of the 30th,
at Selma, a city noted for wide streets, beautiful trees, and pleasant
homes. Rev. C. B. Curtis assured us of a hearty welcome from the
church, which had long been anticipating this meeting, and Rev. O. W.
Fay, of Montgomery, followed with the opening sermon, upon Christian
activity.
The sermon on Sabbath morning, by President DeForest, upon the power
of the Gospel, was given in concise, terse language, and when, at
the close, he pictured the scene at the last day, when Christ should
receive the redeemed from all kindreds and nations, the “amens” from
many hearers testified that their hearts had been touched.
The children’s service in the afternoon opened with an earnest address,
by Prof. Ellis, upon temperance, followed by Mr. Y. B. Sims, upon the
same subject.
Dr. Roy preached in the morning in the First Presbyterian Church,
and at night, Pres. DeForest filled the same pulpit, both to the
edification of the hearers, as we judge from various remarks of the
members. The fame of the morning sermon came from thirty miles “out
in the country,” and one good man said of the other preacher, “he
ought to be an evangelist; we want to get him away from you.” The
prayer-meetings were full of interest.
Pastors and delegates from the fifteen churches were present.
Some spoke of special religious interest, others of neighborhood
prayer-meetings, one of a pastor’s class for brother ministers, some
of farms recently purchased to be carried on by different members for
the benefit of church or school; and various plans for the uplifting
of the people showed that the pastors of these little churches are
thinking and working, as one of their own members said, “still holding
on, though there are discouragements.”
Dr. Roy presented the “Past, present and future work of the A. M.
A.” in an able address, and those who have long taken part in this
work were thrilled as they heard what had been done, and realized
the magnitude of the work still before them. Through the providence
of God, the Dark Continent was to be made light by the labors of men
and women trained in these schools of the South. We are not only home
missionaries, but, through our pupils, foreign missionaries. The fact
that Prof. Silsby is the son of a foreign missionary of Siam, gave
additional interest to his discourse on “The duty of the churches to
foreign missions.”
One interesting feature of the Conference was the number and variety
of the papers by the students and pastors trained in the Theological
Department of Talladega College. Though greatly regretting the
unavoidable absence of Prof. Andrews, who has never before missed one
of these gatherings, all felt that he was well represented by his
students--his boys, as they like to call themselves.
The discussion, “Shall our ministers encourage the Exodus?” by Rev. P.
J. McEntosh, must not be passed by in silence; for whatever were the
opinions of the audience as to the propriety of bringing forward such a
question at such a time, all must have been moved by the eloquence of
the speaker as he rapidly enumerated the disadvantages of the colored
people of the South.
The third annual meeting of the Woman’s Missionary Association,
conducted by Miss Adams, of Montgomery, was one of exceeding interest.
Reports from Selma, Marion, Montgomery, Mobile, and Talladega told of
lively working societies of the women and girls. The work was much
the same in all. Mothers’ meetings, Bible readings, visitations of
the sick, sewing-schools for the girls, all are helps in this work of
lifting up the women of the South. Miss Hardy’s paper on “The word as
a means of success in our work,” by its apt quotations and earnest
Christian spirit, touched all hearts. A letter from Mrs. Ash, of
Florence, who was educated in one of the A. M. A. schools, was received
with much interest, and the manner in which it treated the question,
“How shall we inspire a spirit of womanhood in our young women and
girls?” highly commended. The whole spirit of the meeting showed that
this subject was uppermost in the hearts of the workers, and that they
realized that the colored women must be helped in their homes, if we
would reach the entire community.
The Conference, after hearing an account of the meeting, passed a
resolution expressing great interest in it, and approving the advance
step connecting it with the new Home Missionary Association.
Time will not allow even a passing notice of many excellent addresses,
but we must note a capital one on temperance by Judge Saffold, of
Selma, considering the question in its legal aspect.
Tuesday night we assembled for the last time, and listened to an
eloquent missionary sermon by Mr. Crawford, followed by the celebration
of the Lord’s supper, Pres. DeForest and Dr. Roy officiating. It was a
tender, solemn service, the most precious of the week. Then came the
farewells, and we separated, feeling thankful for the privileges we had
so much enjoyed.
The meetings were marked by large attendance, and are spoken of as
unusually interesting.
We must not fail to mention the hospitality of the people of Selma,
particularly of the Presbyterian Church. They received us most
cordially, attended many of the exercises, expressing much interest in
what they heard, and greatly cheered us by their Christian courtesy.
* * * * *
ALABAMA SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION.
Young Man with Backbone--Refreshing Gathering.
PROF. GEO. N. ELLIS, TALLADEGA.
We have just returned from the Fifth Annual Conference of the
Congregational Churches of Alabama and the first meeting of the State
Sunday-school Association held at Selma.
This Association was organized only last year at Montgomery, so this
was our first gathering. We had a glorious, a soul-stirring time.
The Convention opened Friday evening, March 26th, with a sermon by
President DeForest of Talladega.
I summarize reports as follows:
Thirteen schools were represented by delegates, four by written
reports, one by letter; their aggregate shows over thirteen hundred
teachers and scholars in attendance, seventeen hundred volumes in
libraries, one hundred and eighty dollars raised, and one hundred
conversions. This does not include the schools taught by our students
through the summer, although they are really a part of our work. This
brief sentence gives no idea of the interest with which these reports
were given and received, or of the amusing or touching incidents
connected with the giving.
_Mission Schools._--It will not do to pass these by unnoticed. It is
marvelously surprising how quickly the love of Christ, once received
into their own hearts, inspires this people to go out and seek for
others.
We have three such schools about Talladega. Selma and Mobile report one
each. Childersburg has a county association.
The superintendent of the mission school at Selma gave an interesting
account of his experience in organizing and conducting it. By the way,
he is the young man recently mentioned in the _Advance_, who refused
a position, worth $25 per month, in a store, because whiskey was sold
there, which he might sometimes have to handle. It takes moral backbone
in this country to stand up for temperance. I learned something of this
young man’s history. He is making every effort to educate himself and
at the same time partially supports a widowed mother with her large
family. He will make his mark in the world; moreover, what he is as to
character is largely due to the faithful efforts of a patient teacher.
A large number of visitors were present; among them Rev. Mr. Woodsmall,
Principal of the Baptist School at Selma, and others, many of whom
favored us with short addresses, which were spirited, enthusiastic and
pointed.
We feel that we may fairly call our first convention a success in
numbers, exercises, interest and results.
* * * * *
Busy Days--Health-talks--“Major Ann.”
MISS M. J. ADAMS, MONTGOMERY.
It often seems as if our work grew upon our hands, so that we have
no time to tell about it; with our nearly 400 pupils, with all the
cases of discipline that must arise, with interviews with parents
and visits to their homes, in addition to the full hours of school
given to instruction; then the school prayer-meetings, the special
meetings for Bible study, the Young Men’s Association of the school--a
condition of membership of which is a pledge to abstain from the use
of tobacco,--and the semi-monthly meeting of the Woman’s Missionary
Society, which we have of late devoted to “Health-talks.”
At our last meeting I sent an invitation to the mothers of our pupils
to come to the school-room on Monday at four o’clock. A large number
responded, and we gave them such instruction as we could, regarding
things they so much need to know for themselves, their children, and
their homes. The women listened earnestly, and begged for another
meeting of the kind.
We set apart a portion of the day of prayer for colleges for
appropriate exercises, and had a solemn meeting. Since that day, some
have been seeking Jesus. Our hearts are specially cheered with the
evident sincerity of two promising young men, who, we trust, are now
entering upon the new life.
We have a weekly school prayer-meeting, and meet on Tuesday nights such
pupils as we think will be specially helped in a small social meeting.
I must tell you a little about “Aunt Ann,” a member of my Sunday-school
class, who has just died. She was in many respects a remarkable woman.
Of a giant frame, of strong practical common sense, an imperious will,
a contentious and often a bitter spirit, her life full of tribulation,
it was, indeed, a warfare. She was quite a politician, and very fond of
public speaking, so that she was known throughout the city, by both the
white and colored people, as “Major Ann.”
She had learned to read in her old age, and had a great love for the
word of God. She always had her Bible by her in her market-stall, and
never failed of being in her place in the class, with her lesson well
learned, and at every Sunday-school concert or Christmas festival she
must say her “speech.” During the last of the year I noticed with how
much more of a tender and quiet spirit she enjoyed the truths of the
lesson, especially those about Heaven. When visited during her long and
painful sickness, she always called for the reading of the 5th chapter
of Revelation, adding, “Read it right, for I shall know if you make one
mistake.” That chapter and the repetition of the twenty-third Psalm
were a sure comfort to her in her suffering, poverty, and loneliness.
Major Ann’s dying message to me was, “Meet me in glory; meet me at the
first trump.”
* * * * *
KENTUCKY.
The Land and the People--The Work at McKee.
REV. E. P. FAIRCHILD, BEREA.
A stranger passing through many portions of the mountains of Kentucky
would probably regard it as a waste, howling wilderness, with no signs
of habitation, save now and then the crow of a chicken or bark of a
dog off in some hollow. This is owing to a custom the people have of
settling away from the public roads. Then, too, the highways often
follow a narrow ridge, or deep valley, where there would be but little
room for building. The indication of a near residence is a path leading
off from the road, or possibly you may see a corn-field on a distant
hill-side. But the heavy timber and thick underbrush generally obstruct
the view.
The people, as a class, take but little pride in good or comfortable
houses. One often has to get quite near before he can see them, so
small are they, and so much the color of the timber, being made of logs
or poles. A person is regarded as “having a plenty” when he owns a good
saddle-horse or two, a pistol, a milch cow, a few shoats, domestic
fowls, and crop enough to last him through the year. The idea is that
man lives but a short time; he should be satisfied with enough to eat
and wear; that death, in a sense, destroys his individuality; that one
star doesn’t differ from another in glory; that “in much wisdom is much
grief,” and “what profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh
under the sun?” Be contented without knowledge, orchards and vineyards.
What reason have we for improving on the condition of our parents? Of
course, there are exceptions to those who hold these sentiments; and
if their prophets and priests had not promulgated these ideas, to keep
them from becoming wise above their instructors, probably none would
have cherished them; for it would be hard to
find a people with as little knowledge and culture, who are so honest,
genial, frank, and ready to receive instruction as they are. The
trouble is, they have been neglected. The Southern aristocracy have
little sympathy, and do not know what it is to reach a helping hand to
the needy, though they are regarded as very hospitable. The benevolent
people of the North and East are absorbed in aiding the growing West.
But let us go to the church. There is no bell to ring, though a bell
would sound beautifully among those hills and valleys. There is no
time-piece but the sun, and often no church or school-house to enter;
a private house or an arbor is sufficient, if there is a spring near
by. It is surprising to see the number that gather when there are so
few signs of habitations. All are very attentive, and seem anxious
to learn, save a few roughs, who gather at a distance, provided with
whiskey and pistols, ready to quell any fuss that may chance to arise.
Those who read the Bible and Almanac at all generally read them very
much, and are ready to quote Scripture, but are less gifted in its
construction and application; and if they chance to get hold of any
other reading, they are apt to become very familiar with it, reading it
over several times. They are not afraid to sing loud, whether they know
the song or not.
It is not one of their principles to give, unless it be a good meal
of bread, hog-meat and gravy. Many are not able, and none have been
taught, to give. Some hardly know how to account for the fact that
other people give to them.
The people might be divided into two classes--either “in all things too
religious,” or “full of fornication and drunkenness, with feet swift to
shed blood.” The hills rock-ribbed, the quiet valleys with moss-covered
stones, clear flowing brooks and running ivy, are not adapted to
engender lukewarmness. A talented man is apt to be a preacher or
desperado--sometimes both.
About four or five months ago I made my first visit to McKee, the
county seat of Jackson Co., Ky. I found a small village having a
court-house, jail, poor-house, two or three hotels, about the same
number of stores, several dwellings, and a small school-house, but no
church. It lies in a small basin-shaped hollow, with high hills on
all sides. On public days, citizens may be seen pouring in from every
valley until the streets are flooded with people, and some of the
people flooded with whiskey.
On inquiry, I found they had no Sunday-school, and preaching, perhaps,
only once in two or three months, when a circuit rider might chance
to be passing. I immediately helped them to the organization of a
Sunday-school, and made an appointment to preach there every other
Saturday and Sunday through the winter. I have met the appointments,
and we now have a Sunday-school with a membership of over seventy-five,
with a good library and lesson papers. A Temperance Society has been
organized with over five hundred members. The Saturday and Sunday
meetings are regularly attended, and the people are now very anxious
that a suitable building should be erected for school and church
purposes. A subscription of over five hundred dollars has already been
raised by the citizens of McKee, and as soon as a thousand dollars can
be obtained from some benevolent source, we shall lay the foundation
for something permanent.
AFRICA.
* * * * *
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM PROF. CHASE.
Jos. Smith preached this morning a good plain sermon upon “The Way of
Life.” He had to speak through an interpreter, but got along nicely.
The congregation was a strange one. Only two of the women had hats.
Most of them wore turbans made of striped handkerchiefs, wound around
in artistic styles.
During the services a tithing-man passed around, a cane in hand,
keeping the children in order, and waking up those inclined to
drowsiness.
_Avery Station._--This is rather a pleasant spot. The river makes three
bends here, and the mission house is so placed, that from the front
veranda we get a view about half a mile up and down the stream, of
water, rocks and green, the thick growth of trees, bushes and vines,
most of the way coming down to the water’s edge, and at some points
dipping into it. The yard is surrounded by a low well-kept hedge,
sprinkled with little pink blossoms. In front are cocoa-nut trees,
with their clumps of yellowish green nuts encircling the trunks about
twenty feet from the ground; an orange tree, a cinnamon tree with
its dark green fragrant leaves, and several pretty shrubs of various
kinds. Beyond the hedge, on a point sloping toward the river, is the
coffee “farm” (of three acres) covered with trees about four feet
high, looking very much like pear trees. In the rear is a clump of
banana trees with a few bunches of unripe fruit. In the distance is
the mill, whose irregular roof of bamboo is looked down upon from the
veranda. Nearer by is the chapel, an unpretentious yellow structure
with a school-room in the basement. The house is one-story, raised
several feet above the ground, having a wide veranda on three sides,
and containing six comfortable rooms, besides kitchen, &c.
Mr. Jackson is pastor of the church; Mr. Anthony, from Berea, has
charge of the mill and farm; and Rev. Mr. Jowett, a native, educated
at Sierra Leone, teaches the school, and acts as interpreter. In
the family are ten little children who are just beginning to talk
in English, and work about the house and grounds. The plateful or
platefuls of rice the little things can put away is astonishing. The
smallest one will eat as much as can be piled on a dining-plate.
[_Editorial Note._--A son of the Mr. Jowett, referred to in the
above letter, has just landed in this country, on his way to Fisk
University. Believing that he is to figure in the future history of
missions in Africa, we give a brief sketch of him, and a glimpse at
life in an African village, prepared by himself. This will be found in
the juvenile department. Just here we wish to say that Albert Miller
shows his appreciation of a liberal education and also his devotion to
his divine Master, two things very hopeful in a missionary. He found
this young man helpful as a Christian, and useful as an interpreter,
and believing he would make a good missionary, he has sent him to his
Alma Mater, and authorized the Association to pay his expenses out of
his own small salary. When such a spirit of self-denial and thorough
consecration characterizes the church, we shall have no trouble either
in getting or maintaining teachers and missionaries.
We wish also to say that this is a most hopeful movement; that of the
emancipated Christian and cultured African, with a constitution which
enables him to live there, going back with the blessings of the Gospel
to his fatherland; and that of the native, fully
acquainted with the language of that people, rescued from paganism, to
this country for Christian education. The meaning of slavery, under the
Divine administration, is beginning to unfold itself.]
THE INDIANS.
* * * * *
INDIAN BOYS AT HAMPTON.
MISS ISABEL B. EUSTIS.
Mr. Hall’s account in the February MISSIONARY of the departure
of his Fort Berthold boys for Hampton, was a vivid picture to us who
welcomed them here. We could almost see them bidding a sad good-bye to
their friends, waving their blankets from the deck of the boat, and
sympathized with their consciousness that they had “a long way to go,
and a long time to stay, and it would be hard.”
We wish the friends, who bade them good-bye that cold October morning,
could see them to-day. If they could hear their quick and intelligent
replies in the school-room, and watch them at their trades, we think
they would recognize the record which the new thoughts and self-control
of the year have left on their faces, and would feel that they have
already gone a long way and a good one.